This year, Local 4 added a whole new level of excitement with the Local 4 Tweet Team. A group of expert shoppers who use social media to share the deals they find with all of Metro-Detroit. It was a busy 24 hours that started at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

“We’re doing okay. Caffeine is part of any Black Friday Strategy,” Emily Hay of Hay There Social Media told Ruth to the Rescue when we caught up with her at Somerset Mall.

“It was kind of crazy, but it was still fun. Sharing the deals has been so much fun,” said Inez Parker of Farmington Hills, who specializes in low prices on high fashion.

Retailers Watching #Local4Shopping

As the Local 4 Holiday Shopping Frenzy kicked into high gear, we found even retailers were watching the tweets, and then responding to what was being said about their stores.

“Some lines at Old Navy, to check out, were a little unbearable, and Old Navy actually reached out to one of our team members and gave them a gift card.” Emily Hay told Ruth to the Rescue.

Can You Skip Long Lines?

While most of the Tweet Team hit the stores Thursday night, Jolyn Felten started her Black Friday at home in the computer. She said she received plenty of doorbusters and bargains without going into the night and waiting in line.

“Retailers are making it really easy for you to shop online and there are always online coupon codes and incentives, where you can save a little bit more. You might not need to stand in line,” she told us as the crowds buzzed around her at Somerset.

The Tweet Team will be out in force through 8 p.m. Friday night, and then the #Local4Shopping will be out there for everyone to use during the weekend, with more deals to be tweeted leading up to Cyber Monday.